Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best crappie lakes in Crow Wing County
179 surveyed crappie lakes sit in Crow Wing County; 76 cleared this site's grade rubric, which reads DNR survey catch rates, size structure and trophy history the same way the live map does for every lake. The top 10 are ranked here.
Red Sand Lake leads at grade A−, with 5.6 crappie per net in trap nets in its 2017 survey and a 11-inch fish the biggest measured. Clark Lake is next at A−, 6 crappie per net in trap nets in its 2021 survey, 13% of the crappie netted over 10 inches. Clearwater Lake rounds out the top three at B+, a 12-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 10" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Red Sand Lake | A− | 521 | 5.6/net in trap nets | 18% | 11" | 0.4 lb | 2017 |
| 2 | Clark Lake | A− | 305 | 6/net in trap nets | 13% | 12" | 0.4 lb | 2021 |
| 3 | Clearwater Lake | B+ | 906 | 2.8/net in trap nets | 15% | 12" | 0.4 lb | 2025 |
| 4 | Gladstone Lake | B+ | 437 | 3.2/net in trap nets | 15% | 13" | 0.4 lb | 2024 |
| 5 | Perry Lake | B+ | 164 | 7.6/net in trap nets | 3% | 13" | 0.3 lb | 2019 |
| 6 | Dolney Lake | B+ | 272 | 5/net in trap nets | 49% | 11" | 0.5 lb | 2017 |
| 7 | Cross Lake Reservoir | B+ | 1,815 | 1.5/net in trap nets | 32% | 12" | 0.5 lb | 2024 |
| 8 | Whitefish Lake | B+ | 7,714 | 0.7/net in trap nets | 30% | 12" | 0.3 lb | 2025 |
| 9 | Horseshoe Lake | B+ | 922 | 2.6/net in trap nets | 17% | 11" | 0.4 lb | 2022 |
| 10 | Goodrich Lake | B+ | 382 | 2/net in trap nets | 28% | 14" | 0.5 lb | 2024 |
Also ranked in Crow Wing County: Walleye · Northern pike · Largemouth bass · Smallmouth bass · Bluegill · Yellow perch
All of Minnesota: Best crappie lakes in Minnesota
Grades are this site's rubric over Minnesota DNR survey data (catch per unit effort against DNR benchmarks, size structure, trophy history). See any lake's page for the underlying numbers. Survey years vary by lake; the table shows each lake's latest.